The Winged Dragon of Ra's Sphere Mode is the form of Ra when summoned onto the field. While in that mode, Ra cannot attack, defend or activate any of its special abilities. Ra can only be unlock from its sphere if one reads the ancient chant. The chant, as seen in the english anime is:

"Great beast of the sky, please hear my cry.

Transform thyself from orb of light and bring me victory in this fight.Envelop the desert with your glow and cast your rage upon my foe.Unlock your powers from deep within so that together we may win.Appear in this Shadow Game as I call your name,

Winged Dragon of Ra!"

In the English episode 221 when Pharaoh Atem summoned Ra, he uses the chant but it is changed (again the Japanese version uses the incomprehensible Hieratic). Here is this chant:

"Almighty protector of the sun and sky, I beg of thee, please heed my cry.

Transform thyself from orb of light and bring me victory in this fight.I beseech thee, grace our humble game.But first I shall...call out thy name,

Winged Dragon of Ra!"

The Japanese version uses the incomprehensible Hieratic and the text on the card described the 3 main group of effects of The Winged Dragon of Ra (acquiring the ATK and DEF values of the 3 monsters tributed to summon Ra, Point-to-Point Transfer and Egyptian God Phoenix). The player had to select and read the effect they desired to activate. Kaiba, in the Japanese manga and anime versions only, translated the text which reads as fellow:

"太陽神は３体の生贄を束ねてその力を得る ただし神を従えし者古の呪文を天に捧げよ

神は地より蘇生する 再生の術と術者の命を与えよ 時はひとつであろうとも戦場の敵は炎によって屍と化す

時ひとつとして神は不死鳥となる 選ばれし魔物は大地に眠る "

When roughly translated into english, the text reads as follow:

"Ra shall acquire the power of three tributes. However, only those who offer the ancient incantation to heaven shall God follow.

God shall revive from earth. By offering the Ritual of Revival and his own life, one shall be united with God, and all enemies on the battlefield shall be incinerated.

In an instant, God shall become a Phoenix, and all evil spirits chosen by it shall repose on earth."